Audi A1 Octobeer 2011 Car

The A1 is designed to compete with the Mini, and Alfa Romeo MiTo.


The A1 is produced at Audi's Belgium factory in Forest, near Brussels. The A1 is based on the Volkswagen Group PQ25 platform, the same platform used in the SEAT Ibiza Mk4 and the VW Polo Mk5, and in its development Audi has collaborated with SEAT. The A1 uses a MacPherson strut front and torsion beam rear suspension.

All engines will include a start-stop system and energy recuperation system.

In the UK, A1 trim level comprise of SE, Sport and S line. SE is the base specification, while Sport and S line models also have sport seats, sports suspension and larger wheels, amongst other features. In 2011 Audi introduced a series of new trim levels, including Black Edition and a series of limited editions, including Competition Line and Contrast Edition. These are based on the Sport trim level with distinctive styling features.

The UK launch of the Audi A1 was held on 13 November 2010. The national launch took place from Battersea Power Station, where up to 300 Audi A1s left London. This event was invitation only, with every Audi dealer being allowed to invite just one customer.

Audi has announced several Audi A1 concept vehicles, most of which are of the hybrid vehicle and PHEV variety.
The A1 was previewed at the 2007 Tokyo Motor Show in the form of the Audi metroproject quattro concept car.The concept seats four and features a new hybrid powertrain. With this powertrain, a 1.4 L (85.4 cu in) 148 bhp (110.4 kW) Turbo FSI engine drives the front wheels via a 6-speed S-Tronic, while a 40 bhp (29.8 kW; 40.6 PS) electric motor provides power to the rear wheels. The electric motor is also capable of producing 148 lb·ft (201 N·m) of torque.

The metroproject quattro is able to travel 62 miles (100 km) at up to 62 mph (100 km/h) on one charge of its lithium-ion batteries, which reduces fuel consumption by up to 15%. Both power sources are available to use simultaneously, with the driver then benefiting from McPherson strut front and four-link rear suspension configuration, electromechanical speed-sensitive power steering with a low energy draw, Audi magnetic ride adaptive damping technology, and 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) in just 7.8 seconds.
At the 2008 Leipzig Auto Mobil International show, Audi again presented the metroproject quattro, renamed the A1 project quattro. The vehicle was designed by Audi AG Project Designer in Exterior Design Dany Garand, who also presented the design during the car's Hong Kong debut.

Audi unveiled a second A1 concept car at the Paris Motor Show in October 2008. The A1 Sportback concept is a restyled 5-door development of the metroproject quattro. Like the earlier concept, the A1 Sportback has a hybrid powertrain, with the same 1.4 L petrol engine and S-Tronic dual-clutch transmission, plus a 20 kW (27 bhp), 150 N•m electric motor. However the electric motor drives the front wheels, rather than the rear. Quoted 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration is 7.9 seconds and average CO2 emissions are given as 92 g/km. The A1 Sportback retains the dimensions of the Metroproject quattro, except for a slightly greater length, at 3.99 m (157 in).
The Audi A1 e-tron concept car is an electric variant of the A1, first shown at the 2010 Geneva Motor Show.[23] The A1 e-tron is a series plug-in hybrid (PHEV), powered by an electric motor with a continuous output of 45 kW (61 PS; 60 bhp), and a peak output of 75 kW (102 PS; 101 bhp). A fully charged 12 kWh lithium-ion battery gives a maximum range of 50 kilometres (31 mi), after which a 254 cc Wankel engine is used to power a 15 kW (20 PS; 20 bhp) generator with a 12 l (3.2 USgal) fuel tank. This is estimated to provide an additional range of 124 mi (200 km).

A field testing programme of twenty A1 e-tron vehicles began in Munich in late 2010


In May 2011, the A1 clubsport quattro concept car was shown at the Wörthersee event. This car has a modified version of the Audi RS 3's 5-cylinder 2.5 L engine tuned to 503 PS (370 kW) and 660 N·m (487 lb·ft). Capable of 0–100 km/h (0-62 mph) acceleration in 3.7 seconds, the car also features a restyled exterior including "blister"-style extended wheelarches reminiscent of the Audi Quattro and minimal, lightweight interior trim.


The Audi A1 has been promoted using a viral internet video release entitled "The Next Big Thing". The campaign stars Justin Timberlake and is comparable to the BMW film series "The Hire". Six episodes have been created and are available to view online. Each episode is around 3 minutes long, and shorter versions are featuring as television advertisements worldwide.

The A1 is the first car from Audi to have a tablet based brochure, called the "Audi A1 eKatalog". The brochure works on the Apple iPad and allows the viewer to change the color of the car on almost every page. It also includes a 3D driving simulation.

2011 Chrysler 300 / 300C - First Drive Review

Although we may rhapsodize over the beauty of our favorite cars, precious few of them could be considered art. Whistler didn’t refresh his painting of his mom four years after completing it. Nor did he completely redo it every seven years for the rest of his life. And as much as the 300 might have looked like Chrysler’s chef-d’oeuvre in 2004, the company couldn’t just sit back and let it be. For 2011, the 300 receives a refresh rather than the redesign for which it is due, but the update addresses the most important things.
Much of the money allotted to the 300 rework went to the interior. Like the rejuvenated interiors in other recent Chrysler redesigns, virtually everything you can see or touch inside is improved by an order of magnitude: the dash, the center stack, the steering wheel, the door panels and seats—the list goes on. And the materials are light-years better, too. The dash is soft, the buttons on the new steering wheel actuate with a satisfying click, and the HVAC knobs slip from detent to detent as if lubricated by a film of oil.
Nestled in that updated dash, the new tach and speedometer are stunning, highly readable, and not overly ornamental. A new touchscreen navigation/infotainment display rides atop the center stack, beneath the classy trapezoidal clock that is emerging as a signature of Chrysler interiors. The optional Garmin-based nav system’s bold colors and large graphics make it easy to use, but they lend it an almost juvenile appearance. Still, we prefer basic and useful to elegant and stupefying.





The Importance of Being Consistent
Our only complaint about the 300’s new interior is that it is a strong testimony to the importance of matching material qualities. In a space that is among the best executed in its class, the 300’s few remaining dull spots—the window switch panels and the plain black plastic surrounds for the HVAC controls and nav screen are a few examples—call an inordinate amount of attention to themselves.
The seatbacks offer enough support to keep occupants in place during extreme maneuvers, but the bottom cushion offers so little support it might as well be crowned.
Chrysler also refined the exterior styling. Although more elegant and mature than the brash shape of the designed-with-a-T-square original, the 2011 car nonetheless looks a bit less cohesive. Still, it doesn’t take a sharp eye to recognize the silhouette, and the softer detailing hides the 300’s musculature about as well as a tuxedo disguises a buffalo. Naturally, Chrysler has added LEDs to the headlight clusters as is required by current styling convention.
114 Additional HP? Well, Certainly!
Underhood, the headlining 5.7-liter Hemi is only slightly changed (it carries over with modest upgrades of 3 hp and 5 lb-ft of torque), but the new base 3.6-liter six-cylinder effectively replaces two V-6s (an anemic 2.7-liter and a more capable 3.5) and betters the old 3.5’s 250 hp by 42. (It tops the 2.7 by 114 hp.) Along with its 292 horses, the Pentastar V-6 offers 260 lb-ft of torque. Both hp and torque peak late (6350 and 4800 rpm, respectively), so downshifts are necessary for meaningful acceleration while rolling. It sounds a bit coarse at idle, but the Pentastar finds its voice as the revs—and output—climb. Although not the thrill ride of the V-8, the six is more than competent, something we could almost say about the old 3.5 but never about the 2.7.
The same five-speed automatic pulls duty behind both engines, but an eight-speed will begin to spread across the lineup later this year. Chrysler is aiming for a 30-mpg highway rating with the new transmission, which is a ZF design (the best the Pentastar manages with the old five-speed is 27 mpg). Although the five-speed automatic does allow for manual shifting, it has no dedicated manual shift gate. As in the previous-generation 300, the driver taps the lever left and right from its resting place in D to shift, but the new 300’s taller center console gets in the way—not that using the function is particularly satisfying anyhow.
Similar Suspension
With most of the redesign budget invested in the interior, chassis changes are limited—mostly tweaks to spring and damper rates and alignment adjustments. Once again, there are two available suspension tunes: base (or “Comfort”) and Touring. Both provide exceptionally smooth rides and switchback competence, although the base suspenders allow a bit more body roll than the Touring setup does. Opt for the 20-inch wheels or all-wheel drive, and the upgrade to Touring is included. Caution is recommended, though, as pairing the stiffer legs with 20-inch wheels results in untoward crashing over large pavement pocks.


Designed to exude a luxurious environment, the 2011 Chrysler 300 sedans cast-skin instrument and door panels offer three-dimensional double gloss grain for a premium appearance and smoothness. Liquid chrome, polished chrome accents contrast with the Chrysler’s flagship sedan, the look of machined aluminum. For more details, offers a new instrument cluster gauge faces with two large sapphire blue lights and chrome ring accents. The provision of a premium and modern environment is a new sapphire blue LED-lit interior.Built at the Brampton Assembly Plant in Brampton, Ontario. (Canada), is the 2011 Chrysler 300 in showrooms in the first quarter of 2011.

The new electrohydraulic steering possesses only slightly more feeling than an ant-burning adolescent sociopath, but it has a satisfying heft and precision and an unwavering sense of straight-ahead. At triple-digit speeds, the 300 is superbly steady and surprisingly serene, thanks to increased sound insulation throughout the car.
Pricing Progression
The base car, with its greatly improved interior and V-6, starts at $27,995, $15 less than last year’s base model. A high level of equipment is standard, including Chrysler’s Uconnect Touch entertainment system—with Sirius satellite radio as well as iPod and SD-card inputs—a 12-way power-adjustable driver’s seat, dual-zone automatic climate control, and keyless entry and ignition. The 300 Limited tacks four grand onto the sticker, starting at $31,995, and adds leather upholstery with heated front seats, Bluetooth, a backup camera, a 276-watt amp for the audio system, 18-inch wheels, and chrome trim for the mirror caps and door handles.
For another $7000, the 300C adds the 363-hp Hemi V-8, the Touring suspension, navigation, and bigger brakes, as well as the Luxury package, which includes nappa leather, real wood trim, auto-dimming mirrors, heated rear seats, and heated and cooled cup holders. On the 300 Limited, this bundle costs $3250. All-wheel drive, once available on some V-6 and V-8 300 models, is now reserved for the top-of-the-line 300C AWD, which starts at $41,145. Chrysler says an all-wheel-drive option could return to the V-6 model down the road. In either case, the tippy-toes stance of the all-wheel-drive car is lessened a bit by a 0.2-inch ride-height reduction and a tire-to-fender gap that is tighter by 0.5 inch compared with last year’s car, but the all-wheel-driver still sits higher than the rear-drive cars.

Some fans might have been hoping for something more thorough than this update, but Chrysler spent its money in the right places. The new interior improves on the old one to a degree that is nearly impossible to overstate, and the new V-6 does something similar for the engine lineup. The refreshed 300 may not be a work of art, but it is considerably less dour than Whistler’s mom.

Ford Evos Concept The Ultimate Expression of Ford's

Pay attention, internet. This fastback four-door has been built as an early example of Ford's new design after its current crop of Kinetic-themed cars are consigned to history.  

Alas, it won't reach production. And it resolutely isn't the new Capri, despite some internet correspondents wishing it was. It does, however, allow us some early theorising on the look of the manufacturer's international output over the next five years.

One thought: more of the same with some added Citroen? The inverted trapezoidal front grille thing, which is hangs off the front of Fiestas and Focii has been hoiked higher up, the blue oval's a bit smaller, and the lights are thinner. Though we're not holding our breath for a begullwinged C-Max.

Ford's been pretty vocal about its use of technology since last year's Paris Motor Show, and its researchers have been busy since. There's something called "driver wellness", which monitors the pilot's heart rate through the seat and adjusts the driving experience accordingly.
 
There's also lots of talk of cloud-connected lifestyles. This new, fancypants tech plumbs into all of your iThings, local news networks and your driving habits to provide "a personalised and seamless experience as the driver transitions in and out of the car."


Paul Mascarenas, chief technical officer and vice president of Ford Research and Innovation, says: "The car gets to know you and can act as a personal assistant to handle some of the usual routines of a daily commute. It could automatically play the same music or news program that was just streaming at home, or heat or cool the interior to an ideal temperature before the driver gets in without having to be requested by predicting departure time based on his calendar."


How long we'll have to wait for this to reach production remains to be seen, though...

Derrick Kuzak, group vice president of Global Product Development, adds: "With its compelling design and innovative technology experience, this is a clear demonstration of the exciting vision we have for the Ford brand. While you will never see this car on the road, the next generation of Ford products around the world will display many of the distinctive design ideas and advanced technologies it showcases."

“One Ford” is increasingly being put into action, and it is paying dividends to Ford with increased profits and sales. For the first time since its introduction, the Focus is the same car in the United States as Europe.”One Ford” is realigning models and designing core models to be sold in all international markets. This has made introducing a unifying global design theme important.
The Iosis Concept from a few years back was introduced to preview Ford’s “Kinetic” design language. However, implementation of design strategies was haphazard; Ford North America pursued a divergent design centered around a bold, brash look and a three-bar grille. That look won’t work everywhere, and the Ford Evos Concept premieres Ford’s “first truly new global design language.”
Evos is the new face of Ford. Like Kinetic, the look is toned down in comparison to North American Ford design; goodbye to the three bar grille. A trapezoidal grille features instead
The Evos is meant to evoke a more premium appearance. It isn’t particularly innovative or groundbreaking; we see hints of Aston Martin (and that is no bad thing). On the Evos Concept the look works beautifully; everything flows and surfaces are done very well with a simplistic purity.
Simply put, we like the Evos. The question is how this will translate over to Ford production models. No doubt the details and lines work on the Evos, but we’ll see if production cars designed in the mould of the Evos will manage to pull it off as effectively. It is a tall order. Hopefully Ford will be able to create the right balance of beauty and distinctiveness.
Summing it up, J Mays, Ford group vice president and Design and Creative officer, says that “We wanted the Ford Evos Concept to give a clear message about where Ford design is heading – shaping vehicles that are fun to drive, have a strong premium visual appeal, and above all, are stunningly beautiful.”
Ford has been pushing the envelope with technology recently, and the company looks to continue that leading technology position. The Evos Concept explores the possibilities that can be had with a vehicle that is connected to the cloud, the driver’s smartphone, and therefore the driver’s habits. There is no information on when the first vehicle inspired by the Evos Concept will debut. There is word however that the Evos could be a pretty close (minus fanciful elements) preview of a new Ford coupe on its way. Stay tuned!

Mercedes-Benz BIOME: an Ultralight Vehicle at One with Nature

Each year the LA Auto Show plays host to the Los Angeles Design Challenge, where aspiring designers partner with automakers to envision the future of mobility. This year's theme was to create the 1,000-pound car, and Mercedes-Benz' three designs – one from the U.S., another from Germany and yet another from Japan – are predictably out there.

The entrant from Mercedes' U.S. design arm in Carlsbad, CA was not only rendered but built into a full-scale model. The basis for the Biome Concept is a vehicle that "grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery." Not only that, but it's powered by a combination of the sun and a chemical bond from an imaginary liquid dubbed BioNectar4534. It's all natural, all organic and all science fiction. Size-wise, the Biome comes in at a theoretical 875 pounds, but it's massively wide, slightly shorter than a CL and about as tall as a Vector.

M-B's German design team created the Smart Weight-Watch, an ultra-compact dunebuggy with removable and recyclable plastic and cloth panels, a carbon fiber tub and tires (you read that last part right) and a lithium-ion battery powering two 15 kW motors. Total weight: exactly 1,000 pounds.

Finally there's the Maybach eRikscha from Japan, a four-passenger, two-wheeled "amalgamation of organic intelligence and biomechanical engineering artistry." Ummm... sure.

You can bone up on all three concepts in the press release after the jump and check out live images and design sketches below.
Get ready to have your concept of how a car is manufactured flipped upside-down and turned inside-out. Picture a production process that has plenty in common with agar jelly (used to culture organic materials in laboratories) and little in common with what we would normally think of as production-line automotive manufacturing. You are starting to get close to what the people at Mercedes-Benz have spawned with the BIOME – one of the most outlandish and ambitious concepts in this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge.
In short, the BIOME would be grown in a lab rather than built on a production line.
"As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree" Hubert Lee, head of the Mercedes-Benz advanced design studios said.
This vision includes growing a material called BioFibre which would be lighter than metal or plastic, yet stronger than steel. The resulting car would weighs in at 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). The entire vehicle would also be completely biodegradable.
 

“The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle grows when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds,” Mercedes-Benz explained.
Once on the road the vehicle would run on "BioNectar4534" stored in the car's BioFibre, of which the only by-product is oxygen.
Wildly ambitious? Yes. Completely implausible? Maybe. But the whole point of the Design Challenge is to think outside the square ... the BIOME certainly does that.
Press Release:

At this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge, the designers from the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad, California, surprised everyone with a revolutionary vision. Taking their inspiration from nature, they designed a vehicle which is fully integrated into the ecosystem, from the moment of its creation right through to the end of its service life. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME grows in a completely organic environment from seeds sown in a nursery. Out on the road the car emits pure oxygen, and at the end of its lifespan it can be simply composted or used as building material.

"As the inventor of the motor car, we wanted to illustrate the vision of the perfect vehicle of the future, which is created and functions in complete symbiosis with nature. The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is a natural technology hybrid, and forms part of our earth's ecosystem. It grows and thrives like the leaves on a tree" according to Hubert Lee, Head of the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Carlsbad. This year the competition had called for the creation of a vision of a safe and comfortable 2+2 compact car featuring good handling and a first-class design, and weighing only 1,000 lbs (around 454 kg/kerb weight).

Mercedes-Benz symbiosis – a partnership with nature
The Mercedes-Benz BIOME symbiosis vehicle is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre and tips the scales at just 875.5 lbs (around 394 kg). This material is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet more robust than steel. BioFibre is grown from proprietary DNA in the Mercedes-Benz nursery, where it collects energy from the sun and stores it in a liquid chemical bond called BioNectar4534. As part of this process, the vehicle is created from two seeds: The interior of the BIOME grows from the DNA in the Mercedes star on the front of the vehicle, while the exterior grows from the star on the rear. To accommodate specific customer requirements, the Mercedes star is genetically engineered in each case, and the vehicle "grows" when the genetic code is combined with the seed capsule. The wheels are grown from four separate seeds.

The Mercedes-Benz BIOME is powered by BioNectar4534, which is stored in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior, and wheels. In addition, Mercedes-Benz has developed a technology to equip trees with special receptors which can collect the excess solar energy and turn it into BioNectar4534. This creates a direct link with nature's energy sources and acts as an incentive to cover mobility energy requirements through more trees and at the same time maintain natural resources. Like plants, the Mercedes-Benz symbiosis vehicle also produces oxygen, thereby contributing to improving air quality. At the end of its service life, the Mercedes-Benz BIOME can be fully composted or used as building material. Thanks to the exclusive use of green technologies, the BIOME vehicle thus blends seamlessly into the ecosystem.

The "Knitted" smart 454 – Weight Watch Technologies from Germany

Stuttgart/Los Angeles – American West Coast zest for life meets German technology, design art, and granny's hand-knitted woollen socks. The designers at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studio in Sindelfingen based their design for an unusual smart with four seats for this year's Los Angeles Design Challenge on these principles. The smart 454 is produced by "Smart Granny Robots" (SGR) using weight watch technologies (WWT). These incredible high-tech robots are equipped with huge knitting needles. Like our grandmothers used to knit, they knit the smart's tridion cell from carbon fibres. This knitting creates complex shapes and structures which enable the vehicle geometry to be optimised in terms of weight and strength. When empty, the visionary small car weighs in at just 454 kilogrammes.

For the Los Angeles Design Challenge international car design studios were invited to design a visionary car weighing 1,000 American pounds (approx. 454 kilogrammes). The four-seater small car had to be safe and comfortable, offer good handling performance and first-class design. Steffen Köhl, Head of Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design says: "As the prototype of the lightweight and environmentally friendly city car smart is predestined for this challenge. It met all the basic requirements. We just had to further optimise the lightweight construction coupled with a distinctive and individual design."

Lightweight design with different materials for an individual look

Every single component of the smart 454 is made of different materials to give it characteristic features and a specific look. Every part is manufactured with the precise materials necessary for a perfect balance between weight and function. The windows, fenders, and bumpers are made of recyclable, coloured plastic. The roof is made of thin yet highly durable recycled textile fabric in various printed and woven patterns. The WWT carbon fibre tyres with integrated suspension have an extremely lightweight design and rule out the risk of a flat tyre. The unique SGR technology is the best lightweight design technology for rims and enables truly unique rims to be produced.
The smart 454 is driven by two 15 kW electric motors which are powered by a replaceable lithium-ion battery. The motors are housed between the rear wheels. In the interior the city runabout does not need an instrument panel at all. All functions are controlled and managed via an iPad, for example speedometer and battery charge indicator, navigation system, or air conditioning.

The modular "clip-on" design principle familiar from smart enables a sheer endless spectrum of customer wishes to be easily realised. Doors, roof, engine, and transmission are simple to exchange – for an individual look and driving fun and the best possible vehicle configuration for every occasion.

The Maybach eRikscha – The Luxury Model for Tomorrow's Urban Mobility

Maybach unveils its draft for an electrically driven luxury rickshaw at the Los Angeles Design Challenge
Maybach DRS – "Den-Riki-Sha" – combining ultralight design with a uniquely luxurious exterior and interior
The world's first naturally manufactured luxury vehicle

Stuttgart/Los Angeles. As it presents its draft design for an electrically powered luxury rickshaw, Stuttgart's Maybach Manufaktur automotive hand-finishing section is exploring radical new avenues for the urban mobility of tomorrow as part of the Los Angeles Design Challenge. The Maybach DRS – "Den-Riki-Sha" (= electrically driven rickshaw) – blends the very latest automotive technology, luxurious comfort, and the highest safety levels with the needs of an environmentally aware world and the traditional values of the classic "Jin-Riki-Sha" (human-powered rickshaw). The futuristic four-seater is created through metamorphosis from a DNA cocoon, making it the world's first naturally manufactured vehicle. The rickshaw was developed by the designers at the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Tokyo – participating in the Los Angeles Design Challenge for the first time.

The design competition had invited international automotive design studios to draw up their vision of a car that weighs 1,000 American pounds (around 454 kilogrammes) (kerb weight). The remit was to create a four-seater small car that is safe and comfortable, offering good handling and first-class design. "This was a major challenge – in particular for a brand such as Maybach, whose luxury has thus far manifested itself not least in the vehicles' size. This is why, when building the Maybach DRS, we combined the European concept of luxury with the Asian feel for optimum use of space, so we were able to create a vehicle which blends both in an intelligent manner. Thereby we have shortly undermatched the weight limit", explained Holger Hutzenlaub, who heads the Mercedes-Benz Advanced Design Studios in Tokyo.

The amalgamation of organic intelligence and biomechanical engineering artistry

Breathtaking looks, polished luxury, and technical brilliance characterise the ambitious development of the Maybach DRS. The design is reminiscent of a butterfly's cocoon, light and elegant as it floats between two oversized wheels. The rickshaw is made in a unique, natural production process. Through a complex and perfect metamorphosis a finished vehicle is developed from a DNA cocoon: Organic intelligence blends with advanced biomechanical engineering. The result is a futuristic combination of an ultralight structure and an unparalleled luxury exterior and interior – for a limited number of exclusive vehicles.

The vehicle frame consists of carbon fibres and organic composite materials, whilst the doors and windows are made of injection-moulded polycarbonate and the panoramic roof of flexible organic composite materials. The Maybach DRS is powered by two 20 kW electric motors which are positioned in the wheel hubs and are self-balancing. The energy required is produced by a lithium-ion battery in the tail end. An on-board computer ensures optimum control, communicating with the metropolis's transport infrastructure, and thus guaranteeing a smooth, luxurious ride through the city. In order to increase the vehicle's range, the human/electric hybrid also allows additional pedal force, which is produced by the driver.

Totally true to the grand Maybach tradition of luxurious mobility, the Maybach DRS – "Den-Riki-Sha" – is carrying forward this heritage, paying homage to the roads of tomorrow.


Los Angeles Design Challenge
The Los Angeles Design Challenge is part of the Design Los Angeles conference, taking place from 17 to 18 November 2010 as part of the Los Angeles Auto Show. The winner of the competition will be announced on 18 November 2010.

Now, what on earth, or for that matter not from earth have we got here? It's the Mercedes Biome concept supercar.
It's a product of Merc's Los Angeles design studio, and they prefer to describe it as an 'Ultralight vehicle at one with nature.' The Biome was produced as part of the Los Angeles Design Challenge, taking part alongside the 2010 LA auto show.

Tell me more about the Mercedes Biome concept car...

In a nutshell, the concept is designed to integrate fully in to the ecosystem from 'dust to dust.' So they've concentrated on cleaning up the Biome's act, during production, over its lifespan, and at the time of its eventual disposal or recycling.
The Merc Biome is made from an ultralight material called BioFibre. It's an organic matter, which Mercedes claims is significantly lighter than metal or plastic, yet is supposedly more robust than steel. Testament to this is that the Biome weighs just 394kg, says Merc.
Mercedes also says that at the end of its serviceable life it can simply be composted or even used as building material. Imagine one of these doubling up as your downstairs loo.

What does the Biome run on then, moon-juice? 

It is powered by a strain of biofuel called BioNectar4534, which the car stores in the BioFibre material of the chassis, interior and wheels. Mercedes claims the fuel emits nothing but pure oxygen. Which sounds completely at odds with conventional biofuels and the combustion process.

So, what to make of the Biome's design?  

A little bit of a departure from the E240 CDI taxi that ferries you home on a Friday night, that's for sure.
We see a great similarity to the 2005 Maserati Birdcage concept or perhaps a successor to Will Smith's Audi in iRobot. Or perhaps a new mouse design for your next Apple computer.

When can we expect to see the Mercedes Biome in our nearest showroom?

While the technology and research in the Biome is fascinating, we don't really need to tell you that nothing like this will seen in the near future. Do we?

 

Italdesign Giugiaro Frazer-Nash Namir

Namir is a concept car born of the collaboration between Italdesign Giugiaro and Frazer-Nash, a company specialized in the design, construction, and marketing of hybrid systems deeply rooted in the historical automotive manufacturing company founded in England by Archie Frazer-Nash in 1923.

Presented during the 79th edition of the International Motor Show in Geneva, Namir represents the turning of a new page in the book being written by the Torino-based firm since 2004, opening with the Alessandro Volta project and followed up with the commemorative dream car ““ Quaranta – the result of research and development on sports cars fuelled by hybrid systems produced last year in celebration of the 40th anniversary of the company’s founding.

The Arabian name Namir, meaning “tiger”, sums up the main features of the concept car: elegance and power, aggressiveness and litheness of lines. Without any doubt it is a sports car: a coupé with two bucket seats and an accurate equilibrium between style and mechanics, aesthetics and contents. The sophisticated mechanics as well as the avant-garde electric and electronics systems are wrapped up into an aggressive package with an exquisitely balanced proportion of volumes and a stunning contrast between the sharp accents of the rear end and the sinuous front lines that emphasise this supercar’s performance: over 300 km/h (187 mph) at maximum speed and an acceleration of 0 to 100 km/h in 3.5 seconds and from 0 to 200km/h in 10.4 seconds, making this the fastest hybrid car in the world.
Namir is also an ecological vehicle. The hybrid system developed together with Frazer-Nash combines an 814 cc endothermic rotary engine with four electric motors, guaranteeing autonomy of 39 km with one litre of fuel CO2 emissions of less than 60 grams per km travelled.

Namir is not merely an exercise in style in and of itself, but rather a fully developed project followed in each and every phase by the Torino-based firm: chassis, body, and mechanical layout were designed and constructed by the Engineering Division, the exterior and interior style was entrusted to the Italdesign Giugiaro Style Centre, while the electrical and electronic elements were developed in collaboration with Frazer-Nash.
The prototype was built entirely in the Italdesign Giugiaro plant.

Fazer-Nash was long ago a famous British car maker and even though they are no longer building cars the company is still around searching for the next big thing which could get them back in everyone’s attention. The company started to develop hybrid drive systems and they teamed with one of the best car design companies in the world, Italdesign Giugiaro to make an extreme concept called Namir.

Type	Engine	Approx Production	Year	Notes
Frazer Nash Fast Tourer/Super Sports	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	165 in the 1920s	1925-1930	various engines including Plus Power, Anzani and Meadows. Super Sports (from 1928) had no running boards. 105-inch (2,667 mm) wheelbase chassis on Fast Tourer and Super Sports with short 99-inch (2,515 mm) option on Super Sport.
Frazer Nash Interceptor/Sportop/Falcon	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	5	1930-1932	Anzani or Meadows engine. Sportop version was fabric bodied. Falcon had a better equipped body. Long and short chassis options.
Frazer Nash Boulogne	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	16	1926-1932	Anzani or Meadows engine. Supercharger optional. Long and short chassis options
Frazer Nash Ulster	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	5	1929-1931	Competition version of the road cars. Long and short chassis options.
Frazer Nash Nūrburg	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	3	1932-1933	Competition model. Tuned Meadows engine. No doors. Short chassis only.
Frazer Nash Exeter	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	4	1932	Single carburettor Meadows engine. Short chassis only.
Frazer Nash Colmore	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder or 1660 cc in line 6 cylinder	19	1932-1939	Four seater. 105-inch (2,667 mm) or 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase chassis options. Four cylinder cars used a Meadows engine, six cylinder cars a twin OHC Blackburne. Three or Four speed transmission.
Frazer Nash TT Replica	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder or 1660 cc in line 6 cylinder	83	1932-1938	Gough 4 cylinder engine used as well as the Meadows and Blackburne. 105-inch (2,667 mm) or 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase chassis options
Frazer Nash Shelsley	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder or 1660 cc in line 6 cylinder	8	1934-1936	Gough (supercharger optional) or Blackburne engines. 108-inch (2,743 mm) wheelbase.
Frazer Nash Ulster 100	1.5 L in line 4 cylinder	1	1936-1937	Originally Anzani powered, later replaced by Gough engine and then a Meadows. Long rounded tail to body.
Frazer Nash Falcon	1.9 L in line 6 cylinder	1	1936	BMW engined. 102-inch (2,591 mm) wheelbase.
Frazer Nash Le Mans Replica	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	34	1948-1953	Originally named "High Speed" and "Competition". 96-inch (2,438 mm) wheelbase. Cycle wings. Conventional (Bristol) gearbox.
Frazer Nash Fast Tourer/Mille Miglia	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	12	1948-1953	Full width body.
Frazer Nash Single-Seater	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	3	1952	Narrow body on Le Mans Replica chassis built to Formula 2 regulations. Also competed in GP and Formula Libre races.
Frazer Nash Targa Florio	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	15	1952-1954	Turismo (100 hp (75 kW)) or Gran Sport (125 hp (93 kW)) Bristol engine options. One car fitted with Austin Atlantic engine. Last 5 cars were open versions of Le Mans Coupé.
Frazer Nash Le Mans Coupé	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	9	1953-1955	100 hp (75 kW) or 140 hp (100 kW) engine.
Frazer Nash Sebring	Bristol engine (2 L in line 6 cylinder)	3	1954	Full width body on Le Mans Replica Mk II chassis. 140 hp (100 kW) engine.
Frazer Nash Continental	BMW engine (2.6 & 3.2 L)	2	1956-1957	V8 BMW engine. Listed at £3751 at the London Motor Show.

Lamborghini Estoque

The Lamborghini Estoque is a concept car built by Lamborghini. Unlike current production Lamborghini cars, which are mid-engine two-seat sports cars, the Estoque is a four-door sedan.
The Estoque was introduced at the 2008 Paris Motor Show. The Estoque is the first front-engine vehicle by Lamborghini since the LM002 utility vehicle. It is described as a "concept for a $230,000 four-door sedan".It currently houses a 5.2 litre V10 engine, although there has been speculation that this could be replaced by a V12, V8, or possibly even a hybrid or turbo-diesel engine, as suggested by Lamborghini's Brand Director, Manfred Fitzgerald.
As with other Lamborghinis, the Estoque derives its name from Spanish-style bullfighting. An estoque is a type of sword traditionally used by matadors.
Speculation regarding production It was reported on 22 March 2009 that production plans for the Lamborghini Estoque were cancelled.Lamborghini executives responded to this by stating that the Estoque had not reached the production planning stage and that the decision whether to produce the Estoque or not has been delayed due to sales and marketing considerations. Stephan Winkelmann, Lamborghini's chairman, has since indicated that a four-door Lamborghini is likely, stating that response to the Estoque showed opportunities for Lamborghini outside the supercar market.However, Winkelmann also stated that Lamborghini does not have any plans to manufacture the Estoque and that it was only a concept vehicle.

Rumored 2014 Production

In a recent statement Chairman and CEO Stephan Winkelmann confirmed that the company is indeed preparing a third model, and that this new model is not an SUV as people have speculated, but a four-door luxury sedan."We have opportunities outside the supercar business, and we showed that with Estoque. It had a more enthusiastic response than we had expected. It was the right time to see if the brand could go outside of supercars. Even now, people are still emailing me about us making the Estoque."

Lotus Evora 2011

The Lotus Evora is based on the first all-new vehicle platform from Lotus Cars since the introduction of the Lotus Elise in 1995 (the Exige, introduced in 2000, and the 2006 Europa S are both derivatives of the Elise). The Evora is the first vehicle of three vehicles to be built on the same platform; the remaining two vehicles will be on sale by 2011.

The Evora is the first product of a five year plan started in 2006 to expand the Lotus line of cars. As such it is a larger car than recent Lotus models Elise and its derivatives (Exige, Europa S, etc.), with an estimated curb weight of 1,350 kg (3,000 lb). It is currently the only Lotus model with a 2+2 configuration, although it has been announced that it will also be offered in a two-seater configuration, referred to as the "Plus Zero" option. It is also the only 2+2 mid engined coupé on sale. The interior is larger to allow taller persons to fit, such as Lotus CEO Mike Kimberley, and two 99th percentile (6'5") American males.

The cooled boot behind the engine is large enough to fit a set of golf clubs, although Lotus Design Head Russell Carr denies that this was intentional.Lotus intends the Evora to compete with different market sectors including the Porsche Cayman.

The name "Evora" keeps the Lotus tradition of beginning model names with an "E". The name is derived from the words evolution, vogue, and aura. Other names considered were Eagle, Exira and Ethos; Exira was rejected as it was considered not good enough and the other two because it would be difficult for Lotus to claim them as a trademark. The name "Evora" sounds similar to Évora, which is the name of a Portuguese city and UNESCO World Heritage Site, in Portugal.


Sales were expected to start in summer 2009.The sales target is 2000 cars per year, with prices between £45,000 and just over £50,000. It will arrive at American dealers beginning in January 2010.


On 12 August 2009, British car magazine Autocar named the Evora as Britain's Best Driver's Car 2009.


The car was reviewed by presenter Jeremy Clarkson on the British automotive television show Top Gear. The review was positive overall. Clarkson considered the rear seats to have not enough legroom, the interior felt cheap and the satellite navigation was sub-optimal. On the upside he was very happy with the performance, handling and comfort. He was extremely impressed with the ride comfort and described the car has "the only car I've ever driven, ever, which is a killer attack dog and an old sofa".

The Evora also won EVO magazines 'Car of the Year 2009' and CAR magazines 'performance car of the Year 2009'.


During late April 2011, Lotus announced a facelifted version of the car will be launched in 2012, modelled around the future range of cars and carrying a starting price of roughly £51,030.


During the 2011 Geneva motor show, Lotus announced the Evora enduro GT concept, as a follow up to the Type 124 and GT4 race cars. Lotus is aiming for this car to enter into the GT3 category by Mid-2011, with a 444 bhp Toyota supplied V8.

Lotus entered two Evoras at the 2011 24 Hours of Le Mans. Despite overheating issues during practice and qualifying, car no.65 finished 22nd overall, completing 295 laps, whilst car no.64 retired after 126 laps.

This section is in a list format that may be better presented using prose. You can help by converting this section to prose, if appropriate. Editing help is available. (August 2011)

   
Lotus Evora at Goodwood Festival of Speed 2010
Problems listening to this file? See media help.

Acceleration: 0-60 mph in 4.9 seconds
Top speed: 162 mph (261 km/h)
CO2 emission: 205 g/km
Fuel consumption: 32.5 miles per imperial gallon (8.69 L/100 km; 27.1 mpg-US) (EU standards); 17/27 MPG city/highway (US EPA standards)
Drag coefficient: 0.337
Engine: Mid mounted,transverse 3.5 litre DOHC V6 VVT-I
Transmission: 6 speed manual
Chassis: Modular lightweight bonded aluminium structure
Steering: Lotus tuned hydraulically-assisted power steering
Suspension: Forged aluminium double wishbone suspension, Bilstein high performance gas dampers,Eibach coaxial coil springs